Why does down payment vary across Montana?

Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.

Yes, owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.

Can I find lower-down options?

Browse low-down-payment homes by city, many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.

Buyer authority MT

Estimated owner-finance down payment by city in Montana.

Down payments scale with home prices but flex by financing type. This ranks Montana cities by an estimated typical down payment on an owner-financed or low-down deal (12% of estimated median home value). This is a modeled directional comparison, not a survey of actual closings.

Last updated September 2026

Montana ranking

25 cities ranked. Click any row for the matching local page.

#	City	Est. typical down payment	Score
1	Billings	$67,600	34	View →
2	Sidney	$61,700	40	View →
3	Bozeman	$57,700	45	View →
4	Helena	$55,200	48	View →
5	Missoula	$51,800	51	View →
6	Bigfork	$50,200	53	View →
7	Belgrade	$49,600	54	View →
8	Laurel	$49,100	54	View →
9	Butte	$48,500	55	View →
10	Whitefish	$48,600	55	View →
11	Kalispell	$47,400	56	View →
12	Great Falls	$45,700	58	View →
13	Glendive	$44,800	59	View →
14	Columbia Falls	$41,300	63	View →
15	Livingston	$41,500	63	View →
16	Havre	$40,700	64	View →
17	Miles City	$40,600	64	View →
18	Stevensville	$38,600	66	View →
19	Lewistown	$38,500	66	View →
20	Polson	$37,800	67	View →
21	Anaconda	$37,900	67	View →
22	Dillon	$37,600	67	View →
23	Hamilton	$37,000	68	View →
24	Libby	$35,500	69	View →
25	Browning	$32,800	72	View →

Methodology

Estimated down = 12% of estimated median home value (representative of owner-financed and low-down deals). Conventional loans typically require 20%; FHA can be 3.5%. Use as a directional comparison.

FAQ

Why does down payment vary across Montana?: Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.
Is 12% realistic?: Yes, owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.
Can I find lower-down options?: Browse low-down-payment homes by city, many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.